Trying to introduce screen blanking

[COVID-19-CTI]

I want to modify the first screen authorize.py ( With the spinning logo ) so that after a period of time if no event is registered the screen goes blank ( turn off all sprites ) but continues to look for a MOUSEBUTTONDOWN / MOUSEBUTTONUP to return to normal.

I thought that this would just be a matter of a simple loop , and say after X many times set inside of authorize.py handleEvents :

for sprite in self.layer1: sprite.visible = False
for sprite in self.layer2: sprite.visible = False

So far I have not been able to make this work.

The normal Xwindows screensaver ( via openbox ) does not work because the loop that constantly redraws the screen defeats it , and it just flashes.

I'm thinking either a loop to turn off both sprties after X many cycles, or create an all black sprite that is visible ( blanking out everything ) after X many cycles.

I'm a reasonable n00b to Python , so please forgive any blindingly obvious answers I might have overlooked.

Thanks ,